Contrary to popular belief, we actually have four different seasons here in the Heart of Dixie. We have football season, recruiting season, spring football season, and “waitin’ on football season” season.
So, it came as no surprise to receive a text message from my cousin around the first of June asking me to give my SEC predictions for the upcoming 2008 football season.
However, he was a bit surprised to read my pick for the winner of the SEC West: Alabama.
Being a true Auburn fan, he accused me of being another unabashed Bama homer with a loose grip on reality. I think they like to call us “Bammers.”
Okay, I will never deny that I sometimes look at the world through crimson-colored glasses. But this time, I’m truly just an impartial prognosticator looking at past numbers and trends while trying to make an educated guess…through somewhat crimson-colored glasses.
Here are some interesting trends to help make my case.
The three-year trend
In the ever-evolving world of college football, there are few constants. Here are some that do exist.
A) Notre Dame will be overrated, and then consequently embarrass themselves by suffering a brutal beat-down in a bowl game. It’s almost as if they get off on the humiliation. The package of schwag they receive from bowl reps should include a gag ball and a safe word.
B) I will be extremely disappointed in the latest edition of the NCAA Football video game. I will curse EA as the “evil, soulless empire” all year, but buy the next edition the day it comes out. Thus, the cycle continues.
C) Once every three years, Alabama will win at least 10 games—1996: 10-3, 1999: 10-3, 2002: 10-3, 2005: 10-2, 2008...you get the picture.
The senior QB trend
The starting QBs during Alabama’s last two 10-win seasons have been seniors. Tyler Watts was a senior in 2002, and Brodie Croyle was a senior in 2005.
John Parker Wilson will be a senior this year. Though he’s broken every single-season passing record two years in a row, most Bama fans wouldn’t trust him to park their car in an empty lot.
Wilson doesn’t need to be especially great this year for Alabama to be successful. He just needs to stop showing up as the opposing QB on some other team’s “Pontiac Game Changing Moment.”
The second-year head coach trend
It’s widely believed that the biggest improvement a team makes under a new head coach is from year one to year two. This has been proven true with almost every coach Alabama has had A.B. (After Bear).
Ray Perkins was the only one to take a step back in 1984, going 5-6. However, he beat Auburn that year, so most Bama folks will forgive him.
More interestingly, some of the biggest jumps have come under coaches who actually had head coaching experience before taking over the helm at Alabama. Dennis Franchione improved from 7-5 to 10-3 in 2002, and would have won the West had the team not been on probation.
Gene Stallings improved from 7-5 to 11-1 in 1991. However, Bill Curry’s progress went backward, finishing with a 10-2 record and a share of the SEC title in his third year.
Nick Saban is entering his second year as the most decorated head coach to come to Alabama in many years. It will be intriguing to see if this trend holds true.
Now, detractors will point out that the schedule is too tough and that the Tide are too young in crucial areas. Both are valid points to a degree. Alabama must make road trips to Fayetteville, Athens, Knoxville, and Baton Rouge. They must also play Auburn in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama has never beaten them.
As for the youth, the starting linebackers may include names like “Higgenbotham” and “Reamer,” which only excite Bama fans named "Mr. and Mrs. Higgenbotham" and "Mr. and Mrs. Reamer."
To both of these points, I retort a thoughtful and introspective, “So what?”
This is the SEC. Every game is a killer. LSU won the National Championship last year after losing to Kentucky and Arkansas, two teams everybody chalked up as a “W” before the season started. It’s likely that one or both division winners will have two losses.
Among the tough games mentioned above, only Georgia returns a QB with adequate starting experience. Experience at that position means something in this league. The last five conference winners prominently featured senior QBs (Mauck, Campbell, Greene, Leak, and Flynn). Bama fans are hoping that JP Wilson’s career follows a similar track.
Alabama’s youth is somewhat exaggerated. The defensive line returns seven guys with at least some playing experience.
Rashad Johnson is an all-conference safety and is the quarterback of the unit. Linebacker seems to be the hardest hit, but there is talk that Prince Hall will be back with the team by fall. Hope is still alive that Zeke Knight can return to the fold after battling a medical ailment.
Worst case scenario, the Tide leans on experienced, but less than blue-chip talented LBs until the highly touted freshman LBs can be brought up to speed. Rolando McClain followed this path last year and was one of the top players on the entire team by year's end.
Again, to say that Alabama will win the SEC West is a highly optimistic view to say the least. However, based on recent trends it is not out of the realm of possibility.
Now all we've got to do is finish this current “waitin’ season.” Thankfully, that gives me enough time to have everyone forget this possibly inane prediction by the time we tee it the last weekend in August.
And if I’m right, just remember—you read it here first.
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3 months ago
Wow.
I really thought this was going to be a ridiculous article based on the headline, but your points are intriguing to say the least--and hard to argue against. The comments on JPW were classic. Good stuff.
That said, I still can't see Bama winning the West.
3 months ago
Not totally impossible, but I think Bama is still at least one more year away.
3 months ago
Nice Article. Good stuff on the stats. I had seen a few of them, but I usually go with the every coach wins 10 games at Bama, but never realized that its a 3 yr trend.
Not to burst a bubble about the Sr. QB trend, but before Watts, the Sr. seasons dating back to Jay Barker were horrid and hardly, if at all, over .500. Its a good new century trend that I surely hopes continues.
And as far as dissing the LBs, Ive met Reamer and watched Charlie Higgingbotham in high school, so Im happy to see them starting and know what they are capable of.
Its not a totally crazy idea to think Bama can win the West this season. I agree with the other guys that we are one year away, but winning the West this season would not be a suprise.
3 months ago
Very good article. Thank you for the information.
3 months ago
Auburn's last 3 senior QB's before last year, Dameyune Craig, Ben Leard, and Jason Campbell, took them to Atlanta. So much for trends meaning anything because it didn't work out last year.
You can spin it however you want and be as optimistic as you want to be and that's fine. You have good young players coming in and you should be happy about that, but you don't have the talent or the schedule to win the West this year. Period. Please be rational.
Of games at LSU, at Georgia, and at Tennessee, how many will you win? I say you win one of those at best. Then you have at Arkansas and Auburn at home. Probably another loss in there as well. That makes 3 losses in the SEC, so if you lose to either/both of LSU and Auburn, they would both have to lose 3 to 4 games in the SEC since you don't own the tiebreaker. Not happening.
How many more articles will there be before the season starts about how Alabama wins the west? It's like all the Alabama fans on here write about the same thing.
from 3 months ago
Justin, take a look at this here. Arkansas has nothing. They should come in last in the West. Alabama destroyed Tennessee last season with a Sr. QB, and so I feel very confident about that. Alabama has won 15 times in Baton Rouge since 1979, so I feel good about that game as well. The only one that half way scares me is UGA. Ive said this for about a month now, and Ill say it up until the season and through the season: The West will come down to the Iron Bowl.
3 months ago
Justin,
Maybe a bit defensive. The author even said it was extremely optimistic to think the Tide would win the West. Overall, it was a pretty objective piece. The stats he brought up were definitely interesting--even if they don't pan out, and I don't think they will.
In any case, now is the time for all teams to be optimistic. Even Vandy. No offense, Vandy fans.
from 3 months ago
I'm not defensive. What do I have to be defensive about? Just stating what I think and I backed it up with reason as well. Senior QB trend doesn't matter when your senior QB is average.
If you were in this rivalry you might understand a little better lol. Sorry, but this isn't Clemson-South Carolina.
I could come on here and write articles about how Auburn is going to go undefeated, but how realistic is that? I could make a bunch of great points as well, but it's just not realistic and would end up making me look bad for being such a homer.
from 3 months ago
Jason Campbell was average.
from 3 months ago
Sorry, dude, I forgot the only game that matters is Alabama-Auburn.
Hypocrisy, anyone? You want to bash someone for their opinion, then you state how terrible Alabama will be (paraphrased), but then you want to lay claim to the best rivalry, which has been won 6 times in a row by the same team.
How many of those six wins led to national championship implications, by the way?
Cue the 2004 season speech...
And about Clemson, you guys sure did take it to the Tigers in the always classic Chick Fil A Bowl. Looking forward to the next South Carolina-Auburn game.
from 3 months ago
Alabama-Auburn is THE best rivalry game.
Auburn's season is crap if they lose the Iron Bowl
Bama hangs its head in shame if Auburn comes out on top
I have seriously considered robbing a bank during the Iron Bowl, there's no way I would get caught. But I would miss the game, so I nixed that idea.
from 3 months ago
Dang Tim. You are getting way too worked up. I was kidding about the rivalry comment in the first place. That's why I put lol.
Second, I didn't bash anyone. I simply disagreed with his article and stated facts to back it up.
Third, why the attack on Auburn when I didn't say a word about South Carolina? And why are you making comments about us beating Clemson in the, how did you put it, "always classic" Chick Fil A Bowl, when you guys didn't even make a bowl game? I mean win some games before you start throwing out backhanded insults.
I'm a fan of your's man, chill.
from 3 months ago
Yes, THE best rivalry...in Alabama.
from 3 months ago
Tim, with all due respect man, the Iron Bowl might not be the best rivalry in college football, that's up to debate. But I know it's a better rivalry than what's in the Palmetto State. It just is. Always has been, always will be. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that, I really am.
from 3 months ago
Do tell about the Iron Bowl. Seriously. Give me your rationale for why it is the best (or one of the best) rivalries.
3 months ago
More to the point:
The SEC West is up in the air right now and everyone is a serious contender.
The Razorback are looking at Petrino like he'll be their savior.
Bama had a great recruiting class and has an experienced offense.
Auburn's offense is expected to kick-off.
LSU still has the best line in the country.
Croom is looking to build off his first winning season.
The only team not in the hunt is Ole Miss, but with an 0-8 conference record last year, they have nowhere to go but up
from 3 months ago
"The only team not in the hunt is Ole Miss, but with an 0-8 conference record last year, they have nowhere to go but up"
Are you kidding me???
If there is one team that is NOT in the hunt in the SEC West... that team is ARKANSAS.
I mean the Arkansas Razorbacks were a SUCKY team in 2007, EVEN WITH Darren McFadden AND Felix Jones... In fact, I would NOT be surprised AT ALL, IF Arkansas went 0-8 in SEC play, during the 2008 College Football season :)
As my 3rd article says:
Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!
Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
ARKANSAS SUCKS!!!
3 months ago
Justin, you do realize that after each season players leave the program and some get drafted right? LSU lost a lot of players, including both of their QBs, starting RB, best WR, Glenn Dorsey, their all american Saftey in Steltz and several others. Tennessee isn't going to be that great either. They also lost several players.
In case you didn't notice Arkanas might not even make a bowl game this year. They lost their entire offense in McFadden and Jones. Not to mention their defense wasn't very good last year and they have a new coach.
At UGA will be tough and i agree they probably will loose that game but you never know. It took OT for UGA to beat Bama last season. Auburn will be tough too, but I think Alabama has a better team this year and it never hurts to play at home.
You talk about their schedule but what you don't realize is that they actually have one of the easier schedules in the SEC of contenders.
LSU plays @ Auburn, @ USC, @ UF, Georgia, and Alabama.
That's really the only team i see competing with Bama in the West. In the East it will come down to UGA and UF.
In case you forgot Bama easily could've won the SEC West last year. They let the LSU game get away from them in the 4th Qtr last year, and they probably should've beat either UGA or Miss St. If they did that then they would've won the SEC West last year.
Bottom line, it wont be easy, and it all comes down to the play of John Parker Wilson.
from 3 months ago
No I didn't realize that. Thanks for letting me know how eligibility in college football works. You guys are so funny. I'm not saying Alabama doesn't have a chance, it's just HIGHLY unlikely that they win the west.
And you are crazy if you think that Alabama has a better team then Auburn this year. Take off the crimson colored glasses and stop drinking the kool-aid.
I think Alabama has a bright future, but it isn't this year. To say you are only worried about LSU when Auburn gets LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia at home is just ridiculous and you aren't even trying to be objective.
from 3 months ago
Michael - Good thing ULM isn't in the SEC West. No team that lost at home against ULM can be taken serious. How much did that "rent a loss" cost in salary to Saban and fees to ULM?
3 months ago
The SEC is a meat grinder ever single year. Any team really can win the SEC at any time. The Western Division is rather intriguing, and I will say it is a long shot, but Bama could possibly win cause if you look at the Division as a whole, all are kinda on the same level. Each team has its own question marks and problems, and will provide for great talk up until its played on the field.
However in my mind, Bama has to prove that it has the coaching besides Saban to do something. Alabama does have good players this year, but I am not impressed with the staff as a whole. We will see what will develop, and I look forward to hopefully keeping that undefeated streak in Tuscaloosa alive come Turkey Day weekend.
WAR EAGLE!
3 months ago
I seem to recall that Last Year, our most productive LB' was a True Freshman and he'll be anchoring the LB units including the best crop of Freshman LB's I have ever seen. The LB's will not be a point of weakness but instead our strength for years to come. The defense schemes are somewhat complex but not at the LB's position. They have very defined roles which should be the easiest of the positions to pick up on the Defensive side of the ball.
As for offensive playmakers, I have a feeling that we are all going to be pleasantly surprised with what transpires. I do believe that the receivers will not only make the spectacular plays that we had last year from Hall, Caddell, and to some extent Brown, but they will also make the routine catches that the previous 3 were too inconsistent in making. Provided Wilson plays to his potential and within the scheme, without forcing bad mistakes this unit too could excell. It is too early to predict SEC west division, but finally, we are certainly on our way.
If the ball bounces are way anything is possible.
3 months ago
Yes, LB McClain is a monster.
What Alabama has been missing is someone on offense who can change the game is a hurry. DJ Hall did that to a point last year. We haven't had someone like that since Shaun Alexander and Freddie Millions. Hopefully Julion Jones can do that. Arenas can also do that on Punt and kick returns.
3 months ago
If Bama does win the SEC West this year, the other teams in the SEC West will play a role in it. Not only are The Tide taking a step forward, other teams in the west are taking a step backwards. With LSUs quarterback problems and the downright inconsistence of the tigers from Auburn, it'll be no surprise if they make it out of the west with 3 losses. Depending on which Clemson team shows up, they could be heading into an SEC game against Arkansas with three easily earned "W"s and get slapped in the face. That being said, UGA is the only team that I am discounting them beating for sure, all the others depend on how Saban coaches them up. He won't let them loss more than 3 SEC games. The maturation of JPW has also been great to watch and the chemistry with his WRs has been developing this past year, this will help. They should make it out of the West, only to lose to the winner of the East in the title game.
3 months ago
I agree with everything you said Marquan. If Bama wins the SEC West it will be a combo of Bama getting better and the rest of the teams getting worse.
3 months ago
ROLL TIDE!!!
3 months ago
The biased Auburn fan (Justin) said I wasn't being objective. Ha, that's funny. Yes i accidently forgot to add Auburn in the conversation with teams contending for the SEC West.
No problem Justin, I could tell you didn't know that players get drafted and graduate after each season. Especially when you said Arkansas at home might be a loss. Im pretty sure if Bama can beat them with McFadden and Jones then they can beat them without those same guys.
Its not a stretch to say Bama is better than Auburn. Your QB Burns is unproven and only threw 26 passes last year. He also didn't do to well on the ground either, only averaging 3.8 yds a carry. Auburn is using a new offense this year and you never know how that will work out it the first year. They do have a nice couple of RB though. The WR aren't that impressive either, only one guy had more than 400 yards last year.
Bama has JPW who is very good, he just needs to be more consistent, they have 2 good RB in Grant and Coffee, WR is up in the air right now but they did get Julio Jones, the best WR coming out of high school. Their defense should be better, anchored by the sophmore McClain.
3 months ago
Lets just look at the schedule:
Auburn plays @ Miss St, then have LSU and Tennessee. So lets say 2-1 in those games.
Then @ Vanderbilt, home against Arkansas and Ole Miss. So lets say 3-0 in those games.
Then you finish it up with Georgia and @ Alabama. This will either be 1-1 or 0-2.
- - - - - - - - -
Now Alabama schedule:
They play @Arkansas, @ Georgia, and home against UK. So lets say 2-1 in those games.
Then Ole Miss, @ Tenn, and @ LSU. So lets say 2-1 in those games.
Then we finish up with Miss St and Auburn both at home. This will be either 1-1 or 2-0.
- - - - - -
So if you can do the math right that means the SEC West will come down to the Iron Bowl. The winner of the SEC West will be 6-2.
Real fast LSU plays @ Auburn, Miss st at home, and @ UF. I think they'll go 1-2 in those games.
then they have @ USC, home with UGA and Bama. This could go either 2-1 or 1-2.
Last, they have Ole Miss and @ Arkansas. So lets say 2-0. That makes them at best 5-3. With Periloux gone its going to be hard for LSU to win the SEC West.
3 months ago
Good points, DScot. I hope they all come true. If not, I'm marking your page so I can come back to release my wrath upon you when I'm let down in October & November. But seriously though, Bama has been through so much over the last 12 years or so, anything positive with the Tide makes my day!! If we can finish even 2nd in the West that would be a huge step in the right direction!
3 months ago
wow, there's been some good stuff going back and forth on the comments, i won't jump in this time.
i will say that i do think bama-AU is the best rivalry, and would like to hear dissenting opinion offer an alternative.
but i really enjoyed the article and especially your writing style. it's not unreasonable to think LSU, AU, or bama could all win the west this year. LSU losing perrilloux makes this thing wide open and the west is back to being a rock paper scissors match.
i think one of the most important factors will be how the team jells as the season progresses. saban's 2003 LSU team got better as the year went on. with bama's schedule especially with LSU and auburn at the end, they'll have no choice.
i could see this as a year when a three loss team will win the west on a tie breaker, it'll probably be that kind of season.
but dscott, i really liked this read.
3 months ago
Good thing ULM is not in the SEC West. No team that lost at home to ULM can be taken serious.
Auburn and LSU have owned Bama lately. In fact, the last LSU coach to lose to Alabama is now the Alabama coach.
from 3 months ago
Gotta love this guy. He signs up to the sight with the name of an ex-Alabama coach just so he can comment about the ULM game. Obsess much? Yeah, Saban sucks. He even lost to UAB his first year at LSU. Wonder how he did the year after??
3 months ago
You guys are delusional. LSU had 3 or 4 players taken in the first round in 07' not to mention the 1st overall pick. Then they fell off, no wait they won the national championship. They are stacked at every position with question marks at quarterback and corner. LSU does not have some 8th grader they are going to throw in, they consistently recruit the best in the country. Is it possible for Alabama to win the West, of course. Is it possible for Notre Dame to win a BCS game, maybe in a perfect world. Would I bet on it- NO. Alabama is moving forward but this is not the year guys, I look forward to them being in every game they play next year. Saban has a way of pulling out tough games and dropping one's he should win- see Houston vs LSU, UAB vs LSU, Blue Grass Miracle, and ULM "Rent a Loss" in T-town. 77 days till game time- whooooooooooo.
3 months ago
JOHN PARKER IS TOO WEAK OF A QB...ALABAMA WILL HAVE TALENT...SABAN PROVED THAT, BUT TALENT DOESN'T ALWAYS END UP THE WAY YOU THINK( SEE PERRILOUX )...NEED TO GIVE IT A FEW MORE YEARS AND SEE IF THEY AMOUNT TO ANYTHING
PLUS: LSU STILL OWNS THE WEST, HAS ENOUGH TALENT TO GIVE IT ANOTHER RUN TO THE NC GAME, AND A DEFENSIVE LINE UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTRY
MIKE, I THINK MY ALMA MATER (ULM) EARNED ABOUT $600,000-$750,000 TO GO INTO BRYANT-DENNY AND HOLD THE TIDE AND THEIR QB TO 7 POINTS....HOW BOUT THEM WARHWKS!!!! I LIKE THE "RENT-A-LOSS" PHRASE
EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST FOLD TIDE FOLD!!!!
3 months ago
Good reasoning DScot, this rationale of thinking made do a little more research and even as an Auburn fan I wholeheartedly agree that bama should AT LEAST win the west based on past trends.
I went a little farther and found that the consistently successful coaches in the SEC attain HUGE results in their second year (if they haven't already by the first year, as is bama's case) with their respective teams. Check this out:
Coach / Year 1 (SEC record) / Year 2 (SEC record) / Where they finished in the SEC (either first OR second year)
Tuberville / 2-6 / 6-2 / Lost in the SEC Championship Game (2nd year)
Fulmer / 2-0 / 7-1 / Tied 1st in the East, lost right to play b/c of tiebreaker (1st full year)
Saban / 5-3 / 6-3 / Lost in the SEC Championship Game (2nd year)
Miles / 7-1 / 6-2 / Lost in the SEC Championship Game (1st year)
Richt / 5-3 / 7-1 / Won the SEC Championship (2nd year)
Meyer / 5-3 / 8-1 / Won the SEC Championship Game (2nd year)
Nutt / 6-2 / 4-4 / Tied 1st in the West, lost right to play b/c of tiebreaker (1st year)
So there is even more of a reason why bama should AT LEAST win the West. My question to you and all other bama fans, right here and now in June, is if Saban does not accomplish what all these other SEC coaches have WITH your senior QB, what will be the reasoning behind it? Will blame be placed directly on Saban for once? Or the more likely scenario (practiced by ALL CFB fans): will blame be placed on the schedule, JPW and/or the new coordinator? Knowing bama fans these past few wonderful years, I'm betting on the latter.
WDE & rtr... Can’t wait to hear the excuses come November!!!
from 3 months ago
I appreciate it. As I had hoped to convey, the trends are interesting to say the least. That certainly doesn't mean I'm flying to Vegas and put money on it. BTW- Saban's 2nd year at LSU was 2001, and he actually beat UT in the SEC championship game. The loss knocked UT out of the BCS title game that year.
As for the excuses, doesn't every team have them? Borges was a genius with 3 first round picks, but was the worst OC in the history of football 3 years later. As with most all fanbases, sometimes folks can't see the forest for the trees. For instance- Tuberville has made only 1 SEC CG appearance since the end of the 2000 season, yet many fans love him because of his record vs. Alabama.
Anyways, is it time to tee it up yet??
3 months ago
Jude, are you desperate for attention or did you forget the caps lock was on.
I wouldn't compare JPW to Ryan Perrlioux. Yes they are both talented but as far as i know JPW hasn't been suspended several time, done drugs, and kicked of a major D-1 football program.
Yes, Bama never should've lost to ULM but that's over. I don't care who we lost to 07, that's season is over. Don't live in past so much. Good point about Saban loosing to UAB in his first year at LSU. He did at LSU didn't he?
I can't see LSU winning the SEC West with all the players they lost. With Perrlioux there i would definatly give them a much better shot. You never know though, it will be a three team race though.
3 months ago
not to nit pick with the above posts but....
Ryan,
Saban didn't lose to houston at LSU, dinardo did. saban beat houston 28-13 in his first year. i would say some of saban's worst losses were (not counting the cap one iowa hail mary swan song) UAB, bama and coach fran in 2002 (31-0 at home) ole miss in 2002 by 11. also fla in 2002, 44-15.
and i don't think a loss hurt worse than 2002 at arkansas 21-20. that game was for the west. ark went down the field in 3 plays. that was a bad loss.
next...
Ryan,
Saban didn't lose the SEC cg in his second season, he won it.
from 3 months ago
sorry, the second part of my comment above was meant for Jonathan.
3 months ago
I would say Alabama fans are deluisional. First off, how many years has it been since Alabama beat Auburn?(Who's your Daddy?) You have'nt scored an offensive TD against Mississippi State in 3 years and have lost to State the last 2 years in a row.(Who' your Daddy?) You also lost ULM at home. Also you guys keep saying hopefully so and so can play like so and so from past glory days and that is just false hope. The sooner Alabama and Ole Miss forget about what happened eons ago and start focusing on the here and now the better off they will be!
Oop, I'm sorry. My bad. Please keep on dreaming while the rest of the SEC passes you by!
3 months ago
Ha, Richard, you write this whole paragraph about how alabama isn't go to be good because they haven't beaten auburn in 6 years, haven't scored a TD against Miss St in 3 years, and how we lost to ULM last year.
Then you say that we stop forgetting about the past and focus on the here and now! Ha, nice contradiction.
from 3 months ago
"Ha, Richard, you write this whole paragraph about how alabama isn't go to be good because they haven't beaten auburn in 6 years, haven't scored a TD against Miss St in 3 years, and how we lost to ULM last year."
Hey Michael, these are just FACTS... You just got to ACCEPT them :)
By the way, I really can't help it, but to LAUGH at the FACTS... that Andrew Zow was your last QB to beat Auburn, AND that your team LOST AT HOME, on SENIOR DAY, to Louisiana-Monroe :)
3 months ago
Jimson, are you stalking me. You wrote that on the facebook college football wall and now you find me here and say the same thing.
You have no room to talk Jimson, you are a Kansas fan. At that you just because a kansas fan this year. Hmm i wonder why, could it be because they went 12-1?
I accept the facts, bama hasn't done well in recent years except for a couple of 10 win seasons. I've got no problem admitting they haven't been doing well sine 1999 with the probabtion and losses to Auburn.
However, don't ever talk to anyone about ACCEPTING facts. You think Kansas won the National Championship this year, you also think SOS doesn't matter and you called beating a 3-9 Iowa State team a quality win. On top of that you said Kansas would beat Ohio State 62-0.
from 3 months ago
"Jimson, are you stalking me. You wrote that on the facebook college football wall and now you find me here and say the same thing."
NO, I am NOT stalking you!!! In fact, I wrote that thing here FIRST... BEFORE I wrote it on the Facebook College Football wall :)
"However, don't ever talk to anyone about ACCEPTING facts. You think Kansas won the National Championship this year, you also think SOS doesn't matter and you called beating a 3-9 Iowa State team a quality win. On top of that you said Kansas would beat Ohio State 62-0."
Hey, at least Kansas TOOK GOOD CARE OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS during the 2007 College Football season... and did NOT LOSE to a team like Louisiana-Monroe :)
Therefore, I TRULY believe that the Kansas Jayhawks SHOULD have been the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS for the 2007 College Football season :)
3 months ago
Justin I have read your comments about how there is no way Alabama is as talented as Auburn and I am going to have to disagree. Did you watch the Iron Bowl last year?? Auburn won by a touchdown, and the score would have been tied if DJ Hall would have came down with that pass at the end of the half that he basically handed to Jarraud Powers. Throw in the growing pains Auburn is bound to have with two new coordinators, and Alabama's incoming freshmen class that is worlds better than Auburn's, and I would say that the two teams are relatively even. I am not saying that Alabama is better, or will win the Iron Bowl this year, but do not think that Auburn is so much better than Alabama, the small gap in talent that yall may have is closing...FAST
from 3 months ago
Daniel, I definitely agree with everything you said in that comment... In fact, I do NOT believe that there is ANY NOTICABLE separation at all, between Auburn's talent level and Alabama's talent level in 2008 :)
By the way, my preseason favorite to win the SEC West... is still Alabama :)
3 months ago
I think it's a toss up on who will win the SEC west. There are 4 teams who have a ligitimate shot, and it's still way too early to predict the front runner. A lot depends on what happens in practice between now and August. Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State all have a shot. Granted Miss. St. will have a tougher time than the other three because they can't sneak up on teams anymore, and even though Croom has their confidence level at a peak teams will be marking them on their schedules this season...especially Alabama and Auburn.
3 months ago
MICHAEL, ARE YOU DESPERATE FOR ATTENTION OR DID YOU FORGET HOW TO SPELL??
"PERRLIOUX" IS SPELLED PERRILOUX..."DEFINATLY" IS SPELLED DEFINITELY...AND LOSING IS NOT SPELLED "L-O-O-S-I-N-G", YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT THAT ONE, SEEING AS YA'LL ARE USED TO THAT HERE LATELY
I DID NOT COMPARE RP TO JPW...I SAID THAT YOU NEVER KNOW HOW TALENT WILL TURN OUT...RP WAS A COVETED RECRUIT WHO TURNED OUT TO NOT BE ALL THAT COVETED....YA'LL HAD THE #1 RECRUITING CLASS, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW HOW KIDS WILL TURN OUT...
LAST YEAR IS LAST YEAR...CORRECT...BUT ULM IS ULM...AND THAT WILL NEVER GET OLD...
WE LOST SEVERAL PLAYERS, BUT WE'RE STOCKED FOR YEARS TO COME... SO GET USED TO IT, GET SOME SPELLING AND GRAMMAR CLASSES, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET JPW'S INITIALS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
from 3 months ago
" "PERRLIOUX" IS SPELLED PERRILOUX..."DEFINATLY" IS SPELLED DEFINITELY...AND LOSING IS NOT SPELLED "L-O-O-S-I-N-G", YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT THAT ONE, SEEING AS YA'LL ARE USED TO THAT HERE LATELY"
Wow, you make fun of Michael for NOT being able to spell the former LSU QB's last name... but YOU CANNOT spell it CORRECTLY either. It is CORRECTLY SPELLED with TWO l's... like this:
Perrilloux
3 months ago
Great stuff dude. I can see Bama winning in Knoxville and Fayetteville, but as much as I love the Tide, I'm predicting a loss to LSU, and maybe one to Auburn, unless Saban can get these boys to the caliber of the good old days. Bama can win the West, but they either have to beat LSU, or LSU needs to drop a couple of close games. ROLL TIDE ROLL!
3 months ago
Ha, thanks Jimson. Anytime you correct someone's grammar you better make sure you spell everything correctly. If not you're just setting yourself up.
By the way, that's caps lock key is located to the far left of your keyboard, just tap it once. Also, if you want to get technical about grammar you can't use an ellipsis after every 4 or 5 words. Did they teach you that at ULM.
All this talk doesn't matter anyways. Its just fun to argue. I think LSU will go 8-4 this season, they have a tough schedule. With games @ Auburn, USC, and UF. Then they have UGA, Alabama, and Miss St at home. I understand they still have good players but anytime a team losses their starting QB, HB, best WR, best defensive player in the country (Glenn Dorsey), all american saftey in Steltz, Ali Highsmith, your two best DB, and others, you're going to have a dropoff.
LSU will be similar to last years Florida's team, except LSU doesn't have a player a Tim Tebow ready to start at QB.
3 months ago
It is sheer fantasy to decide that Alabama will win the SECW in '08. Too many rough games separate the 1 thru 5 teams. The most certain conviction we can have is that Ole Miss isn't going to play in the title game. We must not impose a connection of coaches contending for a title in their 2nd year with what will happen this season in the instance of Saban at Alabama as there are no facts to support it.
A far better case could be made for the Crimson Tide to excel well enough to get in the Cotton Bowl, perhaps to play Oklahoma or Texas. No doubt that would inspire a sellout and be a prized ticket.
3 months ago
That would be a good matchup and one i would like to see.
However, this is college football in the SEC, anything can happen. Take a look at LSU last year. They went 12-2 but easily could've gone undefeated. Both of their losses came in triple OT. On the other hand, LSU could've easily had 5 losses. Remember the Auburn game? Also, they could've easlily lost the Florida game where they had to convert on 4 or 5 fourth downs. One more game was against alabama where they won by 7 and trailed in the fouth qtr.
The point is, there are 5 or 6 SEC teams that have a legit shot at winning the conference. Nobody knows who is going to win each division. If the NC of college football easily could've had 0-5 losses than it proves that nobody from a perseived average alabama team to a great Georgia team should be counted out. Its all going to come down to the little things and little bit of luck too.
Personally, I think Alabama has a shot at the WEST, but either Florida or UGA is probably going to win the SEC.
3 months ago
yeah, i realized i spelled perrilloux wrong after i hit "enter"
i deserve the ridicule, Jimson
But truthfully, he doesn't deserve to have his name spelled correctly
3 months ago
now i realize the biggest reason i'll miss perrilloux is that opposing fans won't be able to say:
"you can't spell "perrilloux" without two L's"
i guess they'll just have to keep using miles for that one.
3 months ago
Two things, never under estimate Les at LSU. He can still Coach his team, without a QB to a bowl and I'm not referring to going to Miami. I just hope Saban chokes at Bama, the guys overrated and look out for Auburn.
3 months ago
So Les is more? When Miles laughed at how much Michigan was willing to pay him to come home he decided to go back to Baton Rouge and take off the gloves for good. Look at who he is recruiting. Look at the reviews of the contact play from spring ball. Miles is taking a brutal approach to punishing the other SEC teams with power, a conference that he sees with too many pretty boys from track and field, and not enough grunt n' goans like he was at Ann Arbor. Yes there is speed aplenty but it was his battering attack that brought Ohio St to its knees in a title game the Buckeyes had committed to win at all cost. Combining the skill of teaching the line play of Fulmer, the wizardry of Spurrier, the trickery of Tuberville, and the preparation of Richt, this man is more than ready to prove to Saban that the better program for the forseeable future resides in Baton Rouge. We may see a dominance of the conference on the level of General Neyland, Paul Bryant, Bobby Dodd, and Spurrier's Gators. Imagine that, a disciple of a disciple (Bo Schembechler) of Woody Hayes unleashed to utilize the atheltic ability of the Bayou, Delta, and Mountains of Dixie upon America? It is a frightening thought to other SEC schools what this man's legacy could be 30 years from now.
3 months ago
go, go, go alabama
6 days ago
Wow, never would have predicted it myself, but the way things are going now, looks like you may have UNDERESTIMATED Bama a bit. -ROLL TIDE (5 - 0)
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